Chapter 38

• Sylvia snapped out of her train of thought, confused as she looked out of the window. She knew that Stephan’s house was not far from her workplace—just a short hour’s journey. Yet, they had been on the road for an hour and thirty minutes now. Anxiety washed over her as she realized she was unfamiliar with the area the driver was navigating. The streets were deserted, lined with tall buildings that seemed to loom over her like silent sentinels.
• Her heart raced as fear crept in. She quickly took out her phone, her fingers trembling as she typed a message to Stephan, detailing her location and the unsettling situation. Just as she hit the send button, she glanced up and froze. The driver was pointing a gun at her, the metallic glint catching her eye in the dim light of the cab.
• Panic surged through her, causing her palms to sweat profusely. She clenched her fists tightly, willing herself to stop trembling. Sylvia felt a cold wave of realization wash over her—she had often contemplated death in the abstract, but now, confronted with the imminent threat, she recoiled in horror. She didn’t want to die; she was terrified at the thought of her life being snuffed out in an instant.